Civic Knowledge “by Study and by Faith”

Our leaders have always encouraged us to be civically responsible by independently exercising our right to vote. As I scroll on my phone and get notifications from online newspapers, there is a distinct feeling of dread that weighs on my shoulders at the end of each day. Faceless accounts spit...

Choosing the Safer Path: Avoiding Temptation in a Covenant Life

The Savior didn’t debate temptation—he dismissed it. When we do the same, his strength will help us overcome our weakness. In our world today, we are surrounded by distractions and worldly pleasures that seek to turn us away from the covenant path. One of the proverbs of Solomon teaches a...

Your Testimony Is a Weapon, a Defense, and a Refuge

We can share the gospel with greater confidence when we recognize the power of our testimonies. Your testimony is a weapon, a defense, and a refuge. And it’s powerful. When I was a missionary in southern Argentina, my mission president taught an important truth from a scripture I now hold...

Using the Book of Mormon to Understand the Old Testament

In his day, Nephi studied and cherished the Old Testament record. Because of what Nephi left behind, we can too. The Old Testament can be a difficult read for many, and it definitely is for me. Not only is it the oldest scripture in our canon, but it sometimes seems...

Humility Deepens Covenant Connections

Christ is the ultimate example of handing his will to God in humility, and we can follow his example in our covenants to draw closer to God. As a newly endowed member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I found—and sometimes still find—the temple covenants to be...
How to Turn Disappointments into Successes

How to Turn Disappointments into Successes

Life will always bring unexpected, disappointing events; more important than the events themselves, however, is how we decide to respond to them.  A friend of mine recently expressed to me the devastation he felt when he returned home from his mission earlier than he had anticipated. Even though the reason...
Shipwrecked in Antigua: How a Trial Became a Blessing

Shipwrecked in Antigua: How a Trial Became a Blessing

When my family and I embarked on a journey to visit the Caribbean islands, we thought it would be smooth sailing. Little did we know what awaited us. My family has adventurous tendencies that kept my childhood interesting. My parents had always wanted to live on a boat, and the...
Four Steps to Following Christ

Four Steps to Following Christ

Christ is our perfect example, but sometimes it’s hard to know how to follow him. Here are four steps that will help us follow in his footsteps. Christ is the only perfect person who ever lived, and in order to return to our Heavenly Father, we must try to become...
He Nourishes Us according to Our Needs

He Nourishes Us according to Our Needs

When you seem to be the only one around with trials and setbacks, how can you still trust in God’s plan? When my husband and I got married, we received several succulent plants as gifts. Although we’d never had our own plants before, we’d heard succulents were the easiest plants...
Foster the Desire to Do Good

Foster the Desire to Do Good

Can our efforts ever be good enough when we are imperfect at best? Do our desires and our less-than-perfect efforts count for anything? I desire to do good and to improve myself, yet I frequently fall short of my expectations. I feel edified and motivated one day, yet find myself struggling the...
Finding God in Our Storms

Finding God in Our Storms

In our storms, God is with us. Though he doesn’t always calm the storm, he can calm us to be able to bear the storm. Have you ever felt like a sailor lost at sea in the middle of a storm, like your life is chaotic and frightening and lonely?...